The increase in Jew-hatred and acts of antisemitism is, one would think, so prevalent and dramatic that it would be obvious to all. Yet, for some reason, there has been a dearth of condemnations from both Christian leadership and from Muslim leaders in the United States and even around the world.
On the rare occasions when public statements condemning antisemitism have been covered by mainstream media, they are usually part of interfaith initiatives which – and this should not surprise you – are often initiated by Jewish leadership.
After an extensive search, utilizing both the internet and multiple AI search engines, I was shocked by the small number of organizations and their leaders not on the record for condemning this hateful bias against Jews.
There is almost nothing to be found in mainstream media condemning this impossible-to-ignore, anti-Jewish blight that is running rampant across the US and Europe.
In all fairness, there is one exception. The patriarch of Catholicism, Pope Francis, publicly condemned the plague of antisemitism he was witnessing. Unfortunately, he was almost a lone voice in what could have and should have been a chorus of many religious leaders from all denominations and countries worldwide.
Muslim voices against antisemitism
Of the few voices that have been raised, Europe outnumbers the United States. It will probably take you aback to learn that some of the most strident voices speaking out against this Jew-hatred have come from the Muslim world.
Shortly after the horror of October 7, before the cone of silence descended on religious leadership vis-a-vis Jew-hatred, several Muslim voices were heard. For example, a major website dedicated to Muslim British life reported that on October 19, 2023, British Muslim faith leaders, comprised of over a dozen senior UK Muslim clerics – including Imams Qari Asim and Ibrahim Mogra – issued a statement condemning antisemitism in Britain and calling for restraint and peace.
Two days earlier, on October 17, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra, alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, publicly condemned the rise in hate crimes and antisemitic attacks and urged solidarity. Aside from their condemnation and several interfaith initiatives – that was it.
In January 2023, months before the massacre and appalling rise of antisemitic attacks in the US, the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA) came out with a joint interfaith statement against antisemitism. That was a full 10 months before the October 7 massacre. Their wording was strong. Their message was that antisemitic intimidation against the Jewish community “must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
In February 2024, a group called the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) held a summit and interfaith breakfast. There may have been more voices raised against antisemitism, but not many.
According to Euronews, on April 15, 2025, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary general of the Muslim World League said: “We are against any form of hatred … against followers of religions because of their religious choice.” Going further in his condemnation, he called for dialogue as the only path forward in overcoming antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Christian voices
Christian voices of condemnation are even fewer. The raised voices of Pope Francis and Pastor John Hagee are the exceptions and emphasize the deafening silence of their respective colleagues.
On January 26, 2025, on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Francis called antisemitism a “scourge” and urged collective action to eliminate all forms of religious persecution and discrimination. He appealed for unity and remembrance. The Pope’s statement was covered by nearly all mainstream media.
At their summit in July 2025 held just outside of Washington, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) reaffirmed its steadfast solidarity with Jewish communities and strong opposition to replacement theology, standing firmly against antisemitism.
Pastor John Hagee, a proud lover of Jews and Israel and the founder of CUFI, is generally prominently featured in coverage by mainstream media. Following the summit, Hagee said: “In recent weeks, we have seen Jews murdered on the streets and Jewish businesses ransacked here in America... it’s shameful… We are not going to allow the Jewish people to suffer on our watch!”
I found only one more Christian group in the United States that publicly condemned antisemitism. In December 2014 the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) partnered with the American Jewish Committee. They published a joint statement condemning antisemitism and labeling anti-Zionist rhetoric as antisemitic.
That makes two groups. How sad.
Why has there been an absence of respected religious, non-Jewish voices condemning something so obviously wrong?
My answer is that they think that hating and attacking Jews is not wrong. They think that condemning Jew-hatred and attacks against Jews will not go over well with their flock.
Religious leaders have power. They have dedicated followers. Their words wield great weight. It’s not simply that the fight against antisemitism and Jew-hatred isn’t high on their agenda – it’s that it’s not anywhere to be found on their agenda.
Religious leadership has power and influence, and they have been silent. Their silence speaks volumes.
The writer is a columnist and a social and political commentator. Watch his TV show Thinking Out Loud on JBS.